Types of Ducks – Different Types of Ducks

The most interesting and comprehensive facts and pictures of different types of ducks including their habitats, diet, physical appearance, and behavior. Duck is actually a common name given to the species that belongs to the family of birds, Anatidae. Swans and geese also fall under the same category. These types of birds are generally found in the lake water or sea water. For the feeding purposes, ducks heavily rely on marine life such as aquatic plants, insects, small amphibians, worms and mollusks.

Ducks have been categorized into different groups such as whistling ducks, teal ducks, and wood ducks. These are monogamous species and they breed only once in a year. Ducks build their nests before the breeding season starts. These birds are considered to be very caring and kind toward humans and they like to be approached.Ducks reside in almost all parts of the world except in Antarctica. Some of the species are found to be migratory birds whereas others are not. They like populated areas and are not afraid to make their presence feel amongst others. For the reason that ducks do not fly, they are too susceptible to the sea predators including crocodiles, fish eating birds, and herons. Ducks are normally monogamous birds in that they make partners for a long period of time. These birds usually breed no more than one time in a year.

Types of Ducks

Diving Ducks

Diving duck

Diving duck is one of the most common types of ducks that mostly feed by diving below the water surface. These birds are also called pochards and scaups.

These birds are also placed in a subfamily of Anthyinae, and are considered to be the close relative of dabbling ducks.

These species are endemic to the Northern Hemisphere.

Diving duck is primarily found in the fresh water.

Unlike other species, these types of ducks can certainly fly.

These ducks are migratory birds and they are often found to travel large distances in one journey.

These birds cannot walk on land as properly as dabbling ducks.

Canvasback

Canvasback

The Canvasback belongs to the family of Aythya valisineria and is one of the North American Diving Ducks.

Common Pochard

These ducks are medium sized birds and they have red head and red eyes together with grayish back.

These types of ducks frequently migrate in winter toward the Western Europe.

These species primarily feed on small insects, small fish, and molluscs.

These birds mostly feed at night.

They are extensively found in the Eastern England, lowland Scotland, Northern Ireland, Russia, and Scandinavia.

Redhead

Redhead (duck)

The Redhead belongs to the family of Aythya Americana and is a medium sized bird.

The length of the redhead duck measures around 37 cm.

The wingspan is about 84 cm long.

These types of ducks have yellow eyes, red head and grey back.

One of the unique characteristics of redhead ducks is that the females often lay eggs in the nests of other ducks.

They make new partners for each year.

These birds are primarily found in the Northeastern United States, Caribbean, and Mexico.

These species are the migratory birds.

They mainly feed on aquatic plants which comprise more than 75% of the whole diet.

Ring-necked Duck

Ring-necked Duck

The Ring-necked Duck belongs to the family of Aythya collaris and is a native of North America. These types of ducks are close relatives of tufted duck.

Ring-necked duck has grey bill with a white band and yellow eyes.

They breed in wooded lakes in the Northern United States and Canada, and are mostly found in ponds and rivers.

They predominantly feed on aquatic insects, plants, seeds, and small fish.

The females lay 8 – 10 eggs. Females stay with their chicks until their first flight.

Ring-necked duck is a migratory bird.

Hardhead

Hardhead

The Hardhead belongs to the family of Aythya australis, and is also called white-eyed duck. These types of ducks are widespread all throughout southeast Australia and New Zealand.

These ducks dive deep into the water for feeding and is observed to stay underneath for a minute or two.

They feed on large number of aquatic creatures including plants, weeds and seeds.

Hardhead ducks like to stay in still water, lakes, and swamps. These birds hardly come on land.

The length of these species measures around 45 – 55 cm.

Baer’s Pochard

Baer’s Pochard

Baer’s Pochard belongs to the family of Aythya baeri, and is typically found in Eastern Asia. These types of ducks are close relatives of Ferruginous duck.

These birds breed all throughout Russia, China, Japan, Vietnam, and India.

The length of Baer’s Pochard measures about 41 – 46 cm.

These birds had been considered as endangered species in 2008.

They are generally found in coastal wetlands, lakes, and ponds.

Ferruginous Duck

Ferruginous Duck

The Ferruginous Duck belongs to the family of Aythya nyroca, and is also known as Fudge Duck.

These species breed in southern and Eastern Europe and Asia.

Ferruginous ducks occasionally migrate to the North Africa.

Males are larger in comparison to the females.

They usually travel in flocks with tufted ducks.

They feed on aquatic plants, small insects, small molluscs, and fish.

Madagascar Pochard

Madagascar Pochard

The Madagascar Pochard is associated with the family of Aythya innotata.

These types of ducks were found in the Central Plateau of Madagascar back in 1991.

The population of Madagascar pochard was observed to be declined in 1940’s and 1950’s due to the habitat destruction.

Rice cultivation and burning of vegetation are one of the widespread causes of the Madagascar’s extinction from several lakes.

New Zealand

New Zealand Scaup

The New Zealand Scaup belongs to the family of Aythya novaeseelandiaei, and is also claimed to be Black Steal.

These diving ducks are native to New Zealand.

They have yellow eyes and dark greenish head.

These birds submerge for about 30 – 40 seconds.

They feed on small insects, mussels, and aquatic plants.

These types of ducks are normally found in the fresh lake-water.

These species do not migrate.

The nesting period lasts from October to March and the females lay 5 – 8 eggs.

The incubation (keeping warm) period lasts for 4 weeks.

Tufted Duck

Tufted Duck

The Tufted Duck belongs to the family of Aythya fuligula and is a medium sized bird with a population of almost 1 million.

These types of ducks have bluish grey bill.

They are widely distributed all throughout Northern Eurasia, United States, and Canada.

They are the migratory birds and most of them travel towards Western Europe and southern Asia.

They build their habitats nearby lake-waters.

Tufted ducks primarily feed on small insects, and mollusks.

Greater Scaup

Greater Scaup

The Greater Scaup belongs to the Aythya marila family, and is a medium sized bird. These types of ducks dive down into the water in search of marine creatures. They are closely related to the Lesser Scaup.

They usually spend their summer in Canada, Alaska, Siberia, and northern Europe.

They migrate toward North America in winter.

Greater scaup are greater in size as compared to other species. They have yellow eyes and bluish bill.

After reaching 2 years of age, they start breeding and constructing nests.

The clutch size comprises of 6 – 9 eggs.

The hatching period lasts from 24 – 28 days.

These types of ducks mainly feed on molluscs, insects, and plants.

Few of the notable predators of greater scaup includes foxes, owls, skunks, coyotes, raccoons and humans.

The length of greater scaup measures around 39 – 56 cm (15 – 22 in).

The wingspan is about 71 – 84 cm (28 – 33 in) long.

These species weigh around 726 – 1,360 g (1.60 – 3.0 lb).

The females lay 6 – 9 olivecolored eggs.

The incubation (keeping warm) period lasts from 24 to 28 days.

The chicks fledge out after 45 – 45 days.

Greater scaup can fly at a speed of 121 km/h (75 mph).

They are mostly hunted in Germany, France, Denmark, and United Kingdom.

Distribution and Habitat Facts

These types of ducks spend their summer in Alaska, Siberia, and Europe.

Hunting and habitat destruction led the population of these birds vanish away from the major lakes.

Pink-Headed Duck

Pink-headed Duck

The Pink-headed Duck belongs to the family of Rhodonessa caryophyllacea and was formerly found in the plains of India and Bangladesh. Few naturalists suggested that the pink headed duck was also found in Myanmar.

These types of ducks are 41 – 43 cm.

They have long necks and a paler bill.

The clutch size consists of 6 – 7 eggs.

The eggs measure around 1.71 – 1.82 inches by length.

The width of the pink-headed eggs is 1.61 – 1.7 inches.

They are the non migratory birds and generally feed on aquatic plant and molluscs.

These species reside in Brahmaputra.

Spot billed Duck

Spot-billed Duck

The Spot-billed Duck Brahmaputra is a member of a Anas poecilorhyncha family, and is also known as Spotbill. These types of ducks primarily breed in tropical Asia.

These birds are endemic to Pakistan, India, and Japan.

The length of the spot-billed duck is about 55 – 63 cm (22 – 25 in).

These birds weigh around 790 – 1,500 grams (1.7 – 3.3 lb).

They are largely found in the freshwater lakes and open areas.

The females lay 8 – 14 eggs.

American Black Duck

American Black Duck

The American Black Duck is associated with the family of Anas rubripes, and is similar in size to the mallards.

These species reside mostly in North America.

These types of ducks are 48 – 63 cm (19 – 25 in) long.

They weigh about 720 – 1,640 grams (1.6 – 3.6 lb).

They build their habitats near water, ponds, brackish marshes, lakes, rivers, and other aquatic environments.

American Black Duck Female lays 8 – 9 eggs.

They are migratory to some extent.

These birds predominantly feed on small insects and molluscs.

The eggs are hatched after 30 days.

Philippine Duck

Philippine Duck

The Philippine Duck belongs to the Anas luzonica family.

These types of ducks are widespread in Philippine.

Recent study has revealed that there are no more than 5,000 species have been left in Philippine.

These birds have grayish body together with a black crown and brown legs.

These species mainly feed on shrimp, fish, insects, and vegetation, and it frequents all types of wetlands.[1]

Mottled Duck

Mottled Duck

The Mottled Duck is a family member of Anas fulvigula, and it has the same plumage as that of a mallard.

Mottled duck is a medium sized bird and it mainly resides in Gulf of Mexico, Alabama, Florida, and Georgia.

These types of ducks do not migrate.

The length of mottled duck measures around 44 – 61 cm (17 – 24 in).

These species have dark plumage and orange legs.

They predominantly feed on aquatic plants, and small insects.

They build nests close to vegetation in order to hide it from the predators.

Red Crested Duck

Red-crested Pochard

The Red-crested Pochard is linked to the family of Netta rufina, and is a large diving duck.

These ducks usually inhabits in the Indian Subcontinent, Africa, Central Asia, and Europe.

Most frequent predators include red foxes, skunks, raccoons, and skunks, and finally humans.

Long tailed Duck

Long-tailed Duck

The Long-tailed Duck or Oldsquaw is a medium sized bird that belongs to the family of Clangula hyemalis.

The length of these birds measures around 10 – 15 cm.

The bill is a dark grey with the pink lineage.

They breed in marshes and mountain lakes all throughout Alaska, Russia, Europe, Canada, and Asia. These are the migratory birds.

They mainly feed on crustaceans, small fish, and molluscs.

They dive 60 m deep into the water for feeding purposes.

Common Merganser

Common Merganser

The Common Merganser is a North American Bird that belongs to the family of Mergus merganser. These types of ducks primarily reside in lakes, wetlands, and forests of Europe and Asia.

These ducks are 58 – 72 cm (23 – 28 in) long.

The wingspan measures about 78 – 97 cm (31 – 38 in).

Common merganser weighs around 0.9 – 2.1 kg (2.0 – 4.6 lb).

Females are slightly smaller as compared to the males.

They feed on molluscs, worms, crustaceans, amphibians, and small mammals and insect larvae.

They are frequently seen on the water surface while searching for food.

The females lay 6 – 17 yellowish eggs.

The chicks fledge out after 60 to 70 days.

These juveniles mature at the age of 2 years old.

These species are the partial migrants in that the often move from the frozen lake waters and ponds.

Auckland Merganser

Auckland Merganser

The Auckland Merganser or Auckland Islands Merganser belongs to the family of Mergus and is similar in outlook with merganser.

It has a reddish brown plumage and bluish tail together with grey wings.

The males are slightly larger as compared to females.

Evidence of its fossils suggested that the bird was formerly a native to South Island in New Zealand.

Brazilian Merganser

Brazilian Merganser

The Brazilian Merganser belongs to the family of Mergus octosetaceus and is considered to be an endangered species with the population of only 250 individuals remaining. One of the chief reasons of its extinction is that none of its specie had been kept under captivity.

The length of the Brazilian Merganser measures around 49 – 56 cm.

The males are greater than females.

Normally, these types of ducks do make any strong sound but it may create a Knack-Knack sound that is often heard while they’re in flight.

The females lay 3 – 6 eggs in the month of June to July.

These species are the permanent residents as they seldom migrate.

The females are responsible for incubating (keeping warm) the eggs.

These birds primarily feed on small insects, molluscs, larvae, and fish.

Humans are mainly responsible for the habitat destruction which is why the population is declining with the passage of time.

Red-Breasted Merganser

Red-breasted Merganser

The Red-breasted Merganser belongs to the family of Mergus serrator and was first found in the mid 18th century.

Salvadori’s Teal

The Salvadori’s Teal belongs to the family of Salvadorina waigiuensis and is a native to New Guinea.

They build their habitats near flowing streams and alpine lakes.

These species lay 2 – 4 eggs.

There is a significant decline in the salvadori’s teal population.

Torrent Duck

Torrent Duck

The Torrent Duck belongs to the family of Merganetta armata and is a close relative of Blue duck. Torrent duck breeds in the South America.

These types of ducks are 43 – 46 cm (17 – 18 in) long.

Small waterside caves and spots are the ideal places for its habitat.

These birds are not afraid of swimming for longer periods of time.

Torrent Duck Species

Leucogenis

Turneri

Garleppi

Berlepschi

Brazilian Teal

Brazilian Teal

The Brazilian Teal belongs to the family of Amazonetta brasiliensis and was previously believed to be a perching duck.

These species have dark brown plumage along with red legs and bill.

They travel in small flocks of no more than 20 individuals.

Females and males are responsible for hatching eggs.

They feed on fruits, seeds, insects, roots, and molluscs.

These types of ducks are extensively found in the South America, Paraguay, Uruguay, Bolivia, Guiana, Argentine, Venezuela, Guyana, Brazil, and Columbia.

Barzilian Teal Species

There are two sub-species:

A. brasiliensis brasiliensis (Lesser Brazilian Teal

A. brasiliensis ipecutiri (Greater Brazilian Teal

Knob-Billed Duck

Knob-billed Duck

The Knob-billed Duck belongs to the family of Sarkidiornis melanotos and is mainly found in Africa, South Asia, Pakistan, and China. Apart from these places, knob-billed duck also breeds in Paraguay, Brazil, Trinidad, Argentine, and South America.

These types of ducks reside in tropical wetlands.

These birds are undoubtedly the largest species of duck with the length of about 56 – 76 cm (22 – 30 in).

The wingspan measures around 116 – 145 cm (46 – 57 in).

Knob-billed duck weigh around 1.03 – 2.9 kg (2.3 – 6.4 lb).

These birds have white head with few dark marks.

The females are smaller than males.

These ducks mainly breed in freshwater, lakes and swamps.

Females lay up to 15 eggs.

Knob Billed Duck Species

There are two subspecies:

Knob-billed Duck (Sarkidiornis melanotos melanotos)

Comb Duck (Sarkidiornis melanotos sylvicola)

Pink Eared Duck

Pink-eared Duck

The Pink-eared Duck belongs to the family of Malacorhynchus membranaceus and is extensively found in Australia.

These ducks are 38 – 40 cm long.

These species are close relatives of musk ducks.

These types of ducks are widespread all over Australia and are primarily found nearby water.

They predominantly feed on crustaceans, small insects, and mollusks.

Cotton Pygmy Goose

Cotton Pygmy Goose

The Cotton Pygmy Goose belongs to the family of Nettapus coromandelianus and is a small perching duck that resides in Pakistan, Bangladesh, India, and Northern Australia.

The length of cotton pygmy goose measures around 26 cm only.

These birds weigh about 160 grams (5.5 oz).

These types of ducks build their habitats in tree holes.

The females lay ivory white 8 – 15 eggs.

They feed on insects, water lilies, and crustaceans.

Lesser whistling Duck

Lesser Whistling Duck

The Lesser Whistling Duck or Indian Whistling Duck belongs to the family of Dendrocygna javanica. These types of ducks largely feed at night and they spend their entire daytime in paddy fields.

very interesting information. But I need further information on migratory birds namely i) Common Coot Gadwall ii) Spot Billed Duck iii) Great Egret iv) Barheaded Goose. The information required is :
1. Do they migrate within the country or to some other country.
2. Those countries lie in which continent
3. how much distance they travel and in how many days.

Would be greatful to the person providing the above information asap. thanks !!